U.S. patent number 6,224,390 [Application Number 09/501,277] was granted by the patent office on 2001-05-01 for coaxial connector.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Hirose Electric Co., Ltd.. Invention is credited to Naoyuki Asano, Ikujiro Mitani.
United States Patent |
6,224,390 |
Mitani , et al. |
May 1, 2001 |
Coaxial connector
Abstract
A coaxial connector comprises a plug-side coaxial member (10) to
be plugged with a mating connector (40) and consisting of a
plug-side central conductor (12) and a plug-side outer conductor
(11) and a base-side coaxial member (30) to be attached to an
object and consisting of a base-side central conductor (32) and a
base-side outer conductor (31) such that the plug-side coaxial
member is movable in the radial direction with respect to the
base-side coaxial member. The plug-side and the base-side outer
conductors (10) and (30) are in contact with each other and cover
almost all the plug-side central conductor (12) and a portion of
the base-side central conductor (32) between the contact point with
the plug-side central conductor and the connection point with the
object.
Inventors: |
Mitani; Ikujiro (Tokyo,
JP), Asano; Naoyuki (Tokyo, JP) |
Assignee: |
Hirose Electric Co., Ltd.
(Tokyo, JP)
|
Family
ID: |
12312052 |
Appl.
No.: |
09/501,277 |
Filed: |
February 9, 2000 |
Foreign Application Priority Data
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|
|
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Feb 9, 1999 [JP] |
|
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11-030739 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
439/63 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H01R
13/6315 (20130101); H01R 24/50 (20130101); H01R
2103/00 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
H01R
13/00 (20060101); H01R 13/631 (20060101); H01R
13/646 (20060101); H01R 012/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;439/63,188,944,247,248
;200/51.1 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Abrams; Neil
Assistant Examiner: Duverne; J. F.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Kanesaka & Takeuchi
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A coaxial connector comprising:
a plug-side coaxial member to be plugged with a mating connector
and consisting of a plug-side central conductor and a plug-side
outer conductor;
a base-side coaxial member to be attached to an object and
consisting of a base-side central conductor and a base-side outer
conductor;
said plug-side coaxial member being movable in a radial direction
with respect to said base-side coaxial member;
said plug-side and base-side outer conductors being in contact with
each other and covering substantially an entire length, in an axial
direction, of said plug-side central conductor and a length, in
said axial direction, of said base-side central conductor between a
point where said plug-side and base-side central conductor are
contacted and a point where said base-side coaxial member is
attached to said object, wherein said plug-side and base-side
central conductors each have a sliding surface extending in the
radial direction to allow radial movement of said plug-side central
conductor with respect to said base-side central conductor.
2. A coaxial connector according to claim 1, wherein said plug-side
central conductor is divided into a fixed central conductor fixed
to said plug-side coaxial member and a movable central conductor
movable in the axial direction with respect to said fixed central
conductor, said coaxial connector further comprises
a first spring member provided between said fixed and movable
central conductors for biasing said movable central conductor
against said base-side central conductor for slidable spring
contact with said base-side central conductor.
3. A coaxial connector according to claim 2, wherein said fixed
central conductor is provided with a recess for receiving a stem
portion of said movable central conductor to form a space between
them for accommodating said first spring therein, with ends of said
first spring member engaged with a bottom of said recess and a jaw
of said movable central conductor, respectively, thereby biasing
said movable central conductor in said axial direction.
4. A coaxial connector according to claim 3, wherein said first
spring is a coil spring.
5. A coaxial connector according to claim 1, wherein said base-side
coaxial member comprises:
a support extending from said base-side outer conductor and spaced
from said plug-side outer conductor in said radial direction so as
to allow radial movement of said plug-side coaxial member and
having an engaging jaw at a position corresponding to a midpoint,
in said axial direction, of said plug-side outer conductor such
that said engaging jaw engages an engaging shoulder of said
plug-side outer conductor in said axial direction, said coaxial
connector further comprising:
a second spring member provided between said plug-side and
base-side coaxial members to bias said engaging shoulder against
said engaging jaw.
6. A coaxial connector according to claim 5, wherein said plug- and
base-side outer conductors each have an opposed surface extending
in said radial direction, between which said second spring member
is provided.
7. A coaxial connector according to claim 6, wherein said second
spring member is a spring washer having a circular seat.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to coaxial connectors.
2. Related Art
Sometimes, it is necessary for a coaxial connector attached to a
circuit board to be movable to a certain extent in a radial
direction or an axial direction perpendicular to the plugging
direction when the coaxial connector is plugged with a mating
connector.
Japanese patent application Kokai No. 7-37648 discloses such a
coaxial connector. As FIG. 4 shows, the coaxial connector comprises
a plug-side coaxial member 50 to be plugged with a mating connector
(not shown) and a base-side coaxial member 60 attached to a circuit
board (not shown).
The plug-side coaxial member 50 consists of a dielectric member 51
having a cylindrical section 51A and a pair of extended sections
51B extending radially from the bottom of the cylindrical section
51A, and central and outer conductors 52 and 53 provided so as to
cover the inner and outer surfaces of the dielectric member 51.
That is, the central and outer conductors 52 and 53 have
cylindrical and extended sections 52A and 53A, and 52B and 53B,
respectively. In addition, protruded contacts 52C and 53C are
provided on the extended sections 52B and 53B, respectively.
The base-side coaxial member 60 has a substantially rectangular
dielectric block 61. An upper recess 61A extends from one side to
the other side of the dielectric block 61. A central conductor
connection member 62 is provided on the bottom of the upper recess
61A and folded back at the both ends of the upper recess 61A. An
outer conductor connection member 63 is provided on the dielectric
block 61 and has a hole 63A through which the cylindrical sections
51A, 52A, and 53A extend upwardly. It is folded back at the both
sides of the dielectric block 61. In this way, the central
conductor 52 is shielded by the outer conductor 53.
The protruded contacts 52C and 53C are in spring contact with the
central conductor connection members 62 and 63, respectively, and
the diameter of the hole 63A is greater than that of the outer
conductor 52 so that the coaxial member 50 is movable in the radial
direction.
The folded back portions of the inner and outer conductor
connection members 62 and 63 are soldered to corresponding circuit
conductors of the circuit board. Even if there is a difference in
the radial direction between positions of the coaxial member 50 and
a mating connector, the coaxial member 50 is moved in the same
direction and plugged with the mating connector without producing
any stress in the base-side coaxial member 60.
However, the coaxial connector as shown in FIG. 4 has disadvantages
that the shielding made by the outer conductor is not perfect and
that the characteristics vary with the axial distance between the
circuit board and the mating connector.
First of all, as shown in FIG. 4, sides of the outer conductor
connection member 63 are opened, and there is no shield on the
sides of the central conductor 52 and the central conductor
connection member 62. This area is so large that it has large
influence on the characteristics of the coaxial connector.
The plug-side coaxial member 50 of the coaxial connector is not
axially movable with respect to the base-side coaxial member 60 so
that if the distance between circuit boards on which the mating
connector and the base-side coaxial member 60 are attached,
respectively, is changed, the depth of plugging with the plug-side
coaxial member 50 of the mating connector is changed. Consequently,
the shield range is changed, resulting in the changed
characteristics.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide a coaxial
connector which has the improved shield characteristics and allows
both radial and axial movement of the plug-side coaxial member.
A coaxial connector related to the invention comprises a plug-side
coaxial member to be plugged with a mating connector and consisting
of a plug-side central conductor and a plug-side outer conductor; a
base-side coaxial member to be attached to an object and consisting
of a base-side central conductor and a base-side outer conductor;
and the plug-side coaxial member being movable in a radial
direction with respect to the base-side coaxial member.
According to the invention, the plug- and base-side outer
conductors are in contact with each other and cover substantially
an entire length, in an axial direction, of the plug-side central
conductor and a length, in the axial direction, of the base-side
central conductor between a point where the plug- and base-side
central conductors are contacted and a point where the base-side
coaxial member is attached to the object.
If the plug-side coaxial member is shifted in the radial direction
from the mating connector, it is moved in the same direction to
avoid any stress acting upon the base-side coaxial member. The
central conductor is almost completely shielded in the above range,
thus improving the shield characteristics.
According to an embodiment of the invention, the plug- and
base-side central conductors each have a sliding surface extending
in the radial direction to allow radial movement of the plug-side
central conductor with respect to the base-side central
conductor.
According to another embodiment of the invention, the plug-side
central conductor is divided into a fixed central conductor fixed
to the plug-side coaxial member and a movable central conductor
movable in the axial direction with respect to the fixed central
conductor. The coaxial connector further comprises a first spring
member provided between the fixed and movable central conductors
for biasing the movable central conductor against the base-side
central conductor for slidable spring contact with the base-side
central conductor. Upon radial movement, the plug-side central
conductor is biased against the base-side central conductor under a
predetermined contact pressure, thereby providing stable contact
conditions.
More specifically, the fixed central conductor is provided with a
recess for receiving a stem portion of the movable central
conductor to form a space between them for accommodating the first
spring therein, with ends of the first spring member engaged with a
bottom of the recess and a jaw of the movable central conductor,
respectively, thereby biasing the movable central conductor in the
axial direction. In such an embodiment, the first spring is a coil
spring.
According to the invention, the base-side coaxial member comprises
a support extending from the base-side outer conductor and spaced
from the plug-side outer conductor in the radial direction so as to
allow radial movement of the plug-side coaxial member and having an
engaging jaw at a position corresponding to a midpoint, in the
axial direction, of the plug-side outer conductor such that the
engaging jaw engages an engaging shoulder of the plug-side outer
conductor in the axial direction. A second spring member is
provided between the plug- and base-side coaxial members to bias
the engaging shoulder against the engaging jaw. If the position of
connection with the mating connector is shifted in the axial
direction, the plugging depth between the plug-side coaxial member
and the mating connector is kept constant by means of the second
spring member, thereby providing stable shield effects.
According to an embodiment of the invention, the plug- and
base-side outer conductors each have an opposed surface extending
in the radial direction, between which the second spring member is
provided. It is preferred that the second spring member is a spring
washer having a circular
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1(A) is a side elevational view, partially in section, of a
coaxial connector according to an embodiment of the invention;
FIG. 1(B) is a bottom plan view of the coaxial connector;
FIG. 2 is a side elevational view, partially in section, of a
mating connector;
FIG. 3 is a side elevational view, partially in section, of the
coaxial connectors of FIGS. 1 and 2; and
FIG. 4 is a perspective view, partially in section, of a
conventional connector.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference
to FIGS. 1(A) and (B) and FIGS. 23.
In FIG. (A), a coaxial connector comprises a coaxial member 10 to
be plugged with a mating connector (not shown) and a base member 30
to be attached to an object.
The coaxial member 10 consists of a cylindrical outer conductor 11
and a central conductor 12 provided within the outer conductor 11.
The outer conductor 11 has a shoulder 11A at a middle position in
the axial direction, forming an upper small-diameter section 13 and
a lower large-diameter section 14. The small-diameter section 13
has an outer surface contacted with a mating connector.
The central conductor 12 is aligned with the central axis of the
outer conductor 11 and divided into a fixed central conductor 15
and a movable central conductor 16 at an axial middle point. The
fixed central conductor is supported by the small-diameter outer
conductor 13 via a dielectric member 17. It has a circular
projection 15A at an axial middle point to prevent separation from
the dielectric member 17 once inserted thereinto from below.
A female plugging section 18 is provided on the top of the fixed
central conductor 15 to receive a male plugging pin of a mating
connector. A shoulder 15A is provided at a middle point of the
fixed central conductor 15, forming a lower large-diameter section
in which a recess 15B is provided. Upon insertion from below, it
engages the bottom face of the dielectric member 17 to position the
fixed central conductor 15 in the dielectric member 17.
The movable central conductor 16 has an upper axial section 16A and
a lower larger-diameter jaw section 16B. Most of the axial section
16A is located within the recess 15B of the fixed central conductor
15, forming an annular space 19 between them. A coil spring 20 is
provided in the annular space 19 between the top of the recess 15B
and the jaw section 16B so that the movable central conductor 16 is
supported by the fixed central conductor 15 via the coil spring 20
and is biased downwardly by the coil spring 20 at the jaw section
16B.
The base member 30 consists of an outer conductor 31 and a central
conductor 32 provided within the outer conductor 31. The central
conductor 32 is supported by the outer conductor 31 via a
dielectric member 33. The central conductor 32 extends downwardly
through the dielectric member 33, forming a connection section 32A
connected to a circuit board P. The connection section 32A passes
through a through-hole of the circuit board P and soldered to a
circuit conductor on the back side of the circuit board P. The top
face 32C of the central conductor 32 is in slidable contact with
the bottom face 16C of the movable central conductor 16 so that the
movable central conductor 16 is biased by the coil spring 20
against the top face 32C and is movable in both the axial and
radial directions.
A metallic support 34 is attached to the circumference of the
base-side outer conductor 31 and provided with an engaging jaw 34A
at the position where the engaging section 11A of the plug-side
outer conductor 11 is located. The engaging jaw 34A engages the
engaging section 11A of the plug-side outer conductor 11 in the
axial direction.
A second spring member 35 is provided between the bottom face 14A
of the large-diameter section 14 and an upper face 31A of the outer
conductor 31. In this embodiment, the second spring member 35 takes
the form of a spring washer with an upper circular seat. It has a
central hole so that it does not block radial movement of the
movable central conductor 16. Thus, it biases the outer conductor
11 upwardly so that the shoulder 11A of the outer conductor 11 is
pressed against the jaw section 34A of a support member 34. The
second spring member 35 may be any type of spring that biases the
outer conductor upwardly.
In FIG. 1(B), four connection sections 31B extend downwardly from
the corners of the rectangular outer conductor 31. Similarly to the
connection section 32A, they are put through corresponding
through-holes of the circuit board P and soldered to corresponding
conductors on the back of the circuit board P.
Thus, the plug-side and base-side outer conductors 11 and 31 are
electrically connected via the second spring member with a small
gap while the plug-side and base-side central conductors 12 and 32
are completely surrounded and shielded by the plug-side and
base-side outer conductors 11 and 31 from the point of connection
with a mating connector to the point of connection with the circuit
board P or the upper surface of the circuit board P.
In FIG. 2, a mating connector 40 comprises a cylindrical outer
conductor 41 and a central conductor 42 supported by the outer
conductor 41 via a dielectric member 43.
The outer conductor 41 is provided with a circular recess in which
a cylindrical spring 44 is provided. The cylindrical spring 44 has
a plurality of slits 44A and is made concave so as to provide
spring forces in the radial direction. A plurality of connection
legs 41A extend upwardly from the top of the outer conductor
41.
The central conductor 42 has a circular engaging section 42A and a
circular projection 42B at a middle portion so that it is inserted
up to the circular stopper 42A and prevented from coming out by the
circular projection 42B. The central conductor 42 has a male plug
pin 42C projecting into a space within the spring member 44 and a
connection section 42D projecting upwardly from the dielectric
member 43.
In FIG. 3, the coaxial connector of FIG. 1 is plugged with the
mating connector of FIG. 2. The mating connector 40 is plugged over
the small-diameter section 13 of the plug-side coaxial member 10 so
that the spring member 44 is brought into spring contact with the
small-diameter section 13. Consequently, the outer conductor 41 of
the mating connector 40 is brought into contact with the
small-diameter section 13 of the outer conductor 11 with a little
play. Also, the male central conductor 42 of the mating connector
40 is brought into contact with the female plug section 18 of the
plug-side central conductor 12.
In the connection with the mating connector, both the plug- and
base-side central conductors 12 and 32 are completely shielded by
the plug- and base-side outer conductors 11 and 31 between the
mating connector and the circuit board P. Under such conditions,
the plug- and base-side coaxial members 10 and 30 are movable in
both the radial and axial directions so that errors in the fixing
position with the mating connector 40 has no influence.
If one or both of the circuit boards (not shown) on which the
mating connector and the coaxial connector are attached,
respectively, are shifted from normal positions in the radial
direction of the coaxial connector, the plug-side coaxial member 10
is moved in the radial direction with respect to the base-side
coaxial member 30 so as to adapted to it. That is, the plug-side
outer conductor 11 is slid on the second spring member 35 and the
engaging jaw 34A in the radial direction with respect to the
base-side outer conductor 30 and support member 34. Also, the
movable central conductor 16 of the plug-side central conductor 12
is slid in the radial direction on the base10 side central
conductor 32 (with the sliding surfaces 16C and 32C).
If one or both of the circuit boards are moved in the axial
direction and the distance between them is changed, the plug-side
coaxial member 10 is moved by that much in the axial direction with
respect to the base-side coaxial member 30, with the first and
second spring members 20 and 34 compressed by that much. Thus, the
plugging depth between the mating connector 40 and the plug-side
coaxial member 10 is kept constant.
The plug-base coaxial member 10 can be slant with respect to the
base-side coaxial member 30 at the sliding surfaces 16C and 32C so
that if the circuit boards are slightly slant with respect to each
other, such slant is absorbed by the coaxial connector. In either
case, the shielding is ensured in the coaxial connector according
to the invention.
As has been described above, according to the invention, the plug-
and base-side coaxial members are movable with each other in the
radial direction and the central conductor is completely shielded
by the outer conductor so that not only errors in the plugging
position in the radial direction is absorbed but only the shield
characteristics are improved. In addition, the both the coaxial
members are movable with each other in the axial direction so that
errors in the plugging position in this direction is absorbed.
Thus, not only the shield characteristics of the coaxial connector
are improved but also excessive stresses resulting from errors in
the plugging position are avoided to prevent damage to the circuit
boards and connection points.
* * * * *